2157年9月8日,晚上六點,商業中心B區,咆哮飯店693Please respect copyright.PENANAgYR2Q1pxw9
693Please respect copyright.PENANAsEQzipokCs
693Please respect copyright.PENANAtH3LQTGq7x
和派翠克聊完,在陽台抽菸的尼可拉斯揉著太陽穴,試圖釐清自己亂糟糟的思緒。693Please respect copyright.PENANAuVRd4D1DR3
693Please respect copyright.PENANABlXJCxN1H3
派翠克的天賦是「蜜液」,他的身體會分泌一種紫色液體,混雜在他的體液中,包括汗水、淚水、血液……等。這些蜜液毒性極強,具有腐蝕性,中毒者十秒內必定死亡,派翠克能自由控制是否放毒。這樣的特性被尼可拉斯說像箭毒蛙,派翠克不喜歡這個比喻。693Please respect copyright.PENANATq6JMlD4Rk
693Please respect copyright.PENANALUWA6icHYv
另外,派翠克告訴尼可拉斯:他的祖母、雷蒙一家的現任領導者──薇奧拉.雷蒙(Viola Raymon),就是第一代水果塔「公爵夫人(Duchess)」。她讓派翠克與白絃碰面,警告派翠克不能被高宇維發現,否則將引來殺身之禍;但為什麼要和白絃碰面、為什麼會被高宇維殺,這些問題都被派翠克迴避掉。693Please respect copyright.PENANALAvCVC8kip
693Please respect copyright.PENANAvTXRZFSrVx
總之,尼可拉斯很煩躁。原本只是去圖書館,卻在地鐵遇到紅鶴,扯進派翠克的事裡。如果派翠克只是「紅鶴會殺他」,事情還好辦;但如今的狀況是「紅鶴和高宇維都會殺他」,這讓尼可拉斯非常尷尬。693Please respect copyright.PENANAue4N9Pa3dt
693Please respect copyright.PENANAUbfieXcRv8
抽完菸,尼可拉斯兩手撐著圍牆,思緒稍微清晰了些。693Please respect copyright.PENANAxByGKOATRD
693Please respect copyright.PENANAPSUU6ADy3t
認識不到一天,又是自家老闆的潛在目標,尼可拉斯沒有理由幫助派翠克,他大可一通電話撥給葛蕾絲,或親手了解這名美麗的男人,那能讓他的忠心大大加分。然而,偏偏出門前尼可拉斯在思考──高宇維到底在隱瞞什麼?693Please respect copyright.PENANA37JQJXIl0G
693Please respect copyright.PENANAK9tB3rVukH
檸檬的惡夢、紅鶴的離開、派翠克的人身安全……事情湊巧地都搭在一起。派翠克離真相太近,哪怕只有冰山一角,尼可拉斯都想賭一把──賭高宇維是否會把背叛的罪名,套到擁有懷特血統的他身上。693Please respect copyright.PENANA4CxL56195c
693Please respect copyright.PENANAdJz7dTzpg6
首先,他們要躲開紅鶴,尼可拉斯只有一個禮拜的時間,能帶派翠克去安全的地方,過程不能被神與畜發現;再來,他要得到派翠克的信任──這不難,因為派翠克莫名信任他,尼可拉斯也是,這也非常奇怪,尼可拉斯無法形容這種感覺,彷彿他們生來、就把彼此刻在基因裡。693Please respect copyright.PENANAxT3ujk4R09
693Please respect copyright.PENANA7QjJaCHV9J
尼可拉斯不笨,很快就想到一個可能──「相似的心能互相共鳴」,派翠克就是他的共鳴對象。尼可拉斯不明白「共鳴」具體是什麼,或許,他該找個人問問?693Please respect copyright.PENANAximT7M15Pr
693Please respect copyright.PENANABbDlTqPgkg
「……。」693Please respect copyright.PENANA1Wb5DMG1Tl
693Please respect copyright.PENANAj26VjS5ePI
用神與畜的戒指叫出投影視窗,尼可拉斯思考要不要聯絡葛蕾絲。出門這麼久,媽媽遲早會打來,尼可拉斯索性來直的,選擇通話。693Please respect copyright.PENANAQXMwZoHqNl
693Please respect copyright.PENANAwlbF7m72dW
「哈囉?」葛蕾絲已經回仙境大樓,尼可拉斯聽見她在廚房切菜的聲音。693Please respect copyright.PENANAjjFIr48xOu
693Please respect copyright.PENANAULopOtHHJ9
「媽,是我。」尼可拉斯告知:「我這幾天不在家,幫我和大家說一聲。」693Please respect copyright.PENANAQWI7qziKva
693Please respect copyright.PENANA0pTsbHDU2X
「欸?你不是去圖書館嗎?」693Please respect copyright.PENANAv2lkcuV7th
693Please respect copyright.PENANA0yiUNxvcj5
「才不是,我是出來玩。」尼可拉斯故意說:「帶小孩很累,我從監獄出來後就沒好好休息,反正最近沒什麼事。」693Please respect copyright.PENANAzYHAo0tmFL
693Please respect copyright.PENANAnbZlVq0MQz
尼可拉斯以為媽媽會生氣,結果葛蕾絲說:「為什麼不找我一起!媽我也很想出去玩,整天跟你沒表情的舅舅混在一起,我也很累吶!」693Please respect copyright.PENANAJcUfAEtwxA
693Please respect copyright.PENANAMWCWLxLqlQ
「呃。」尼可拉斯一時不知道怎麼回,「我玩的東西又跟妳不一樣。」693Please respect copyright.PENANADzEjaQFXqi
693Please respect copyright.PENANAZiLhO2v2d1
「哪裡不一樣!我都回春了,你們年輕人哪個東西我不能玩!?」693Please respect copyright.PENANAE5YpxonD83
693Please respect copyright.PENANA0cRTy8wjpp
「媽,不是年紀的問題。」尼可拉斯口氣尷尬,「是性向的問題。」693Please respect copyright.PENANAO6yrk37aEs
693Please respect copyright.PENANAAlhMfWOtNC
「……。」葛蕾絲愣三秒,「啊哈哈!抱歉,媽媽忘記了……沒錯,那個我不能玩,玩了你爸就要哭了,哈哈哈哈!」693Please respect copyright.PENANAYayiT4cfOD
693Please respect copyright.PENANADQBomKtgDY
媽媽樂於接受自己出櫃的事實,尼可拉斯高興歸高興,但葛蕾絲接受度太高,常常害尼可拉斯很尷尬,比如現在。693Please respect copyright.PENANAEpLiTQ2tLA
693Please respect copyright.PENANAS28IVHBHpE
「你好好玩,我會幫你跟大家說。」葛蕾絲不知道在雀躍什麼,「如果有喜歡的男孩子,記得帶回來給媽媽看!」693Please respect copyright.PENANA64ucgNQzRU
693Please respect copyright.PENANAtNaRVaq69d
「好啦!」693Please respect copyright.PENANA6gjgwD6h3f
693Please respect copyright.PENANA567AIes5i6
用不耐煩的聲音結束話題。看葛蕾絲心情好,尼可拉斯趁勢問:「媽。」693Please respect copyright.PENANAWAmIAv39tr
693Please respect copyright.PENANA5wnx6kGbE6
「嗯?」693Please respect copyright.PENANAsEc2vkwBom
693Please respect copyright.PENANAJqXuYJk868
「假設我被紅鶴襲擊,一時又無法聯絡你們,」尼可拉斯套話:「我能去什麼安全的地方避難?」693Please respect copyright.PENANAUcpBoGF3TH
693Please respect copyright.PENANA1DaM9AQ2MR
葛蕾絲想了想,「如果敵人是紅鶴,又聯絡不到我們,只能找還活在世上的第一代水果塔。公爵夫人一直都在雷蒙一家,找她最快。」693Please respect copyright.PENANA4Y7xHK1UVB
693Please respect copyright.PENANAW7C16bqQvT
尼可拉斯當然知道,問題是,雷蒙一家向來親高,現在的公爵夫人幫派翠克隱藏行蹤;萬一東窗事發,難保她不會為了大局、犧牲派翠克,以維護和高宇維的關係。693Please respect copyright.PENANAu3BPPujCgp
693Please respect copyright.PENANAFbW1FQgAee
「也可以找艾莉絲。」693Please respect copyright.PENANAW7rCPNFiVj
693Please respect copyright.PENANA8MSMSf72DS
葛蕾絲突然又說:「艾莉絲的夏家在B區,具體位置我可以傳給你,但你不能沒事去叨擾她,她現在的身分很尷尬。」693Please respect copyright.PENANAHxqqin5168
693Please respect copyright.PENANAwTlseH66Av
「尷尬?」693Please respect copyright.PENANAaUeFNDa3kP
693Please respect copyright.PENANAPyNx9oybkm
「孩子,你要知道──現在的掌權人不是她,是宇維少爺。雖然艾莉絲的地位比宇維少爺高,宇維少爺的權力又來自於她,但你作為下屬,要知道自己效忠的是誰,不要像赫密士一樣白目。」693Please respect copyright.PENANAFmUMrD3sfg
693Please respect copyright.PENANAMXIrBX90QG
說到赫密士,又是一個謎,他討厭高宇維討厭得要死,卻誓死捍衛艾莉絲體系,某些時候又比高宇維保守,也是尼可拉斯搞不懂的人。693Please respect copyright.PENANAuAS3CUq9KS
693Please respect copyright.PENANAgxtgmxH6ri
葛蕾絲將艾莉絲的位置傳給尼可拉斯。夏家離咆哮飯店不遠,一個禮拜絕對可以到達,但把派翠克帶去夏家好嗎?艾莉絲會不會告訴高宇維?693Please respect copyright.PENANAE1iazp8d3K
693Please respect copyright.PENANAv16i3pBVit
「對了,尼可。」693Please respect copyright.PENANAiq92IacnOC
693Please respect copyright.PENANA5OPz9X8SBT
尼可拉斯思考時,葛蕾絲突然問他:「你最近,有和你爸聯絡嗎?」693Please respect copyright.PENANApVRXTJXx0f
693Please respect copyright.PENANAP350iWT9Vq
尼可拉斯微愣,「……沒有。」693Please respect copyright.PENANA3tVjtDXyh9
693Please respect copyright.PENANAS8l1yW5dkd
「什麼!?」葛蕾絲有點生氣,「你出獄的事呢?變成神與畜、我復活,這些都沒跟你爸說?」693Please respect copyright.PENANA2zlh9ARCIm
693Please respect copyright.PENANAjzA2MgynbT
「這要怎麼說!」尼可拉斯回嘴:「老爸只是普通人啊!」693Please respect copyright.PENANANx9sMH5ml5
693Please respect copyright.PENANAeiiEQznxDy
「家人之間不可以有秘密!」693Please respect copyright.PENANAgfxDdyhynO
693Please respect copyright.PENANA7FdN3HAZnU
尼可拉斯滿頭問號,這才不是秘密的問題,覺得自己被罵得莫名其妙。693Please respect copyright.PENANAvlceCJ7Uod
693Please respect copyright.PENANAsWThcd3cC4
「算了,我自己打給他。」葛蕾絲說:「我不知道這些年你們怎麼了,但他是你爸,你今天的成就都拜他所賜。我明天再問你詳細,先忙煮飯了,拜拜。」693Please respect copyright.PENANAEWpumCdl6r
693Please respect copyright.PENANA3dY3yJq1iW
語畢,葛蕾絲結束通話,留下茫然的尼可拉斯。雖然搞不懂媽媽,但母子感情好,尼可拉斯非常愛葛蕾絲,慶幸有這樣活潑開朗的母親。693Please respect copyright.PENANAR2cMTmqQGl
693Please respect copyright.PENANASOiZpwCXRq
但爸爸就不是了。693Please respect copyright.PENANA4Gst4YLTiN
693Please respect copyright.PENANAAiHhz9EaVE
「……。」693Please respect copyright.PENANAFPWdR9MXre
693Please respect copyright.PENANAL9RT11L1uw
仔細想,李博洋和他爸很像,都非常喜歡看書。李博洋看書是興趣,尼可拉斯的爸爸以書為生,走到哪都拿著書,開口閉口也都是書,會為了絕版的書搭飛機、去其它地區一間一間找,像瘋子一樣跟葛蕾絲炫耀,說這本書多好多棒、這個作者的立場和誰相反、哪幾本書應該搭在一起讀……葛蕾絲總是耐心地聽他說,還會給回饋,是天生一對的夫妻。尼可拉斯的學識,也是爸爸一點一滴教起的。雖然爸爸很怪,但尼可拉斯不討厭他,覺得這樣的家庭也不錯。693Please respect copyright.PENANA9p97LMSg9j
693Please respect copyright.PENANAVNSWlryOaK
直到葛蕾絲死亡的那一天。693Please respect copyright.PENANAzFrnO11z1A
693Please respect copyright.PENANAFqO5yVjDuN
693Please respect copyright.PENANAPHT0jGhffy
──媽媽被里奧.懷特殺了!我親眼看到!693Please respect copyright.PENANAxTHZJnYkcd
693Please respect copyright.PENANAmDvZtiis9f
693Please respect copyright.PENANAc9pUevrJ8R
右手抓著圍牆,尼可拉斯想起那個晚上──他告訴爸爸葛蕾絲的死訊,但爸爸頭都沒抬,眼睛始終盯著那本絕版的書,彷彿書比葛蕾絲還重要。693Please respect copyright.PENANAwxxdnsz6ph
693Please respect copyright.PENANArSucKV0Kcl
693Please respect copyright.PENANAI8mR392upS
──那是你老婆!每天睡在你旁邊的人啊!693Please respect copyright.PENANAwo9XWIAhUs
693Please respect copyright.PENANAvcaTdpcojh
693Please respect copyright.PENANApUuKT2s0Y5
不論尼可拉斯怎麼說,爸爸就是沒反應。如果里奧是給尼可拉斯打擊的人,爸爸就是二度傷害。693Please respect copyright.PENANA5ZQ1u2Zcds
693Please respect copyright.PENANA7gviPQTcsu
從此,父子形同陌路。尼可拉斯被其他醫生排擠、執照被吊銷、入獄……爸爸都沒表示過一句,尼可拉斯沒再見過他。如今葛蕾絲復活,確實是該回家,但尼可拉斯不知要用什麼表情回去。693Please respect copyright.PENANAU6ftH6SFij
693Please respect copyright.PENANAAMVlW2n2Cs
而且,爸爸能接受「老婆復活」這種違背常理的事嗎?他和葛蕾絲是神與畜,爸爸只是個普通、滿腦子都書、連醫師執照都沒有的希波克拉底人。媽媽為什麼要告訴爸爸?高宇維和里奧不會反對嗎?尼可拉斯的頭越來越痛了。693Please respect copyright.PENANAXJDL436LUv
693Please respect copyright.PENANAgszc2LJdcd
「唉。」693Please respect copyright.PENANAK3lmqPvAAM
693Please respect copyright.PENANAvv4ha0Tnr7
菸差不多抽完,尼可拉斯從陽台回到房間,發現派翠克躺在沙發、似是等自己等到睡著。尼可拉斯把外套蓋到他身上,確定派翠克對自己毫無戒心。693Please respect copyright.PENANAAlxVU3S1iU
693Please respect copyright.PENANA8uBuFYgbGr
看來,他們只剩夏家能去了。雖然不確定艾莉絲的立場,但她是能溝通的人,尼可拉斯決定跟艾莉絲交涉看看,說不定能從艾莉絲口中,得知一部份真相。693Please respect copyright.PENANAzkNvUYW4RW
693Please respect copyright.PENANAbBirxIqRu1
「……。」693Please respect copyright.PENANAHrSePZlhj2
693Please respect copyright.PENANAUeWb3F0cvE
看著派翠克的睡臉。雖然對顏值無感,但不得不承認,派翠克真的非常好看。精緻的五官、細緻的皮膚、完美的輪廓、彷彿漫畫才有的長睫毛,藍色的頭髮十分柔順,肩膀以男生來說有點太窄。瘦弱中帶點堅強,高貴中帶點祥和,這樣的派翠克正蓋著自己的外套、毫無防備地睡覺,連尼可拉斯都很難不動心。693Please respect copyright.PENANAlYzo0z2pns
693Please respect copyright.PENANA0lnW5GfY8y
但,既然和派翠克保證過,尼可拉斯就不會碰他,反而坐到離派翠克有點遠的床上,滑著手機。693Please respect copyright.PENANAyAR8Ecso6v
693Please respect copyright.PENANAL5iS143e4u
「唔……」693Please respect copyright.PENANAsxmndxlKx0
693Please respect copyright.PENANAo1TrMZNLRR
尼可拉斯抬頭,發現睡夢中的派翠克正在皺眉,發出破碎的低吟。693Please respect copyright.PENANAknpV8KBJaU
693Please respect copyright.PENANAfxGFpBpGFG
「唔……嗯……唔唔……!」693Please respect copyright.PENANAt4363JduDe
693Please respect copyright.PENANABdhFMWJ9jF
眉頭皺得越來越緊,派翠克緊抓尼可拉斯的外套,表情痛苦、冷汗直流。尼可拉斯上前,呼喊派翠克的名字。693Please respect copyright.PENANA3WkLWYDXf4
693Please respect copyright.PENANAFZvOgrYeoG
「喂,派翠克!」尼可拉斯搖他的肩膀,「派翠克.雷蒙!」693Please respect copyright.PENANA5Zrdobdio8
693Please respect copyright.PENANAcge2Sd2XoI
絲毫沒有醒來的跡象。派翠克的神情與今天的檸檬重疊,尼可拉斯立刻明白發生什麼。693Please respect copyright.PENANANgaXRsSiZ9
693Please respect copyright.PENANAM71fHxKxYT
派翠克在作夢。693Please respect copyright.PENANAhEr1ynrgNg
693Please respect copyright.PENANAg8Sz71gFMA
一場關於第一代水果塔,令人十分不快的夢。他們這些後代都無法避免,彷彿詛咒一樣的夢魘症。